Medical Alert Devices

What to look for in medical alert systems

About Medical Alert Systems

Dating back to the 1970’s, medical alert systems have, and continue to, improved the lives of those who wished to age in the comfort of their own home. Originally made to plug into your home phone and operate via a push button alert, technological advances have made medical alert systems so advanced that they can now detect a fall or dramatic change in pulse. With over 85% of seniors wanting to stay put in their own homes, the demand [and need] is higher than ever… and so are the risks.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) states that one third of Americans 65+ fall each year. Without a medical alert system there is often no way to call for help and many seniors are left waiting on the ground until someone comes to visit. New technology in the medical alert device industry make it easy to have the medical alert pendant on themselves at all times in the form of a wrist watch or necklace. Many of these new systems can be pre-set to call a family member in non-serious instances or call emergency medical services if something serious happens.

Shopping for a Medical Alert System

Lots of new brands have emerged in recent years and there is a lot to consider when shopping for a medical alert system for yourself or a loved one. Our process for reviewing each medical alert system was part discover & part interview based. The first step was to get a baseline of what most care-givers recommended. We called dozens in our area and across the US to try and identify patterns and learn what the professionals are recommending. Next, we called the medical alert device companies to get information about their product and the company it self. Once we had this we were ready to start reaching out to those that actually use the product to hear what they had to say. We then broke down the ‘must haves’ on a medical alert system and created side-by-side comparisons of the top medical alert companies.

Medical Alert System Must Have Features

Reliable Fall Detection

Lightweight, Waterproof Equipment

Accessible Support

Long Range

Long Battery Life

Convenient Payment Options

Medical Alert Systems Reviewed

Facts to Consider

Cost

Range

Mobile 911

Fall Detection

GPS Enabled

Activation fee

Contract Length

Medical Guardian

$29

per month

$29.95-$49.95

600′ +

Yes

Yes

Yes

$0

n/a

Alert1 Details

$26

per month

$26.95-$49.95

400′ +

Yes

Yes

Yes

$39.95

Monthly or Annual

Great Call

$19

per month

$19.99-$34.99

—

Yes

Yes

Yes

$49.99

Montly

ADT Details

$29

per month

$29.99-$39.99

300′ +

Yes

Yes

Yes

$29

12 Months

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